U.K. government scrutinizes universities’ use of agents

By Chris Havergal, Times Higher Education – in WES/WENR Blog

The U.K. government is reviewing universities’ use of overseas recruitment agents.

Roughly one third of international students in the U.K. come to universities through agents. U.K. institutions spent more than $US 126 million (£89 million) on commission payments in 2013-14, according to reporting by the Times Higher Education.

Fraud in the form of forged documents or qualifications is relatively common. The move comes amid concerns about a notable decline in non-EU university enrollments.